Baron Corbin, Rusev big winners at WWE SummerSlam

By Jim Varsallone

jvarsallone@miamiherald.com

Updated August 21, 2017 1:32 AM

WWE Superstar Baron Corbin gets reaction from the South Florida crowd recently at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami. The Lone Wolf won Money in the Bank and had a match against John Cena at SummerSlam. That’s not too shabby. Photo By Jim Varsallone

I can hear it, read it and see it now.

Collapse. Doghouse. Frustrating booking.

Baron Corbin lost to John Cena, and Rusev lost to Randy Orton during WWE SummerSlam on Sunday, Aug. 20 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Why the angst and/or negativity among bloggers, writers and fans with those results?

So much is analyzed for a loss, when I think so much more can be analyzed for a matchup and when.

SummerSlam is the second biggest pay-per-view of the year for the company, only behind WrestleMania.

To have a spot on the SummerSlam main card is a win in itself.

To do that in a match against one of the company’s top stars, a future WWE Hall of Famer, what does that say?

Corbin had a match at SummerSlam against John Cena.

Also, Corbin’s match against Cena dropkicked-off SummerSlam.

Losing Money in the Bank a few days earlier put a damper on Corbin’s company rise, according to bloggers, writers and fans, but maybe WWE decided that with Cena getting involved, because The Lone Wolf was facing Cena at SummerSlam. Guess who else lost his Money in the Bank match...John Cena.

Even with that MITB loss, Cena’s done OK for himself.

Rusev had a match at SummerSlam against Randy Orton.

Rusev returns from injury and is facing The Viper at SummerSlam.

That’s a bad thing? How?

If the company didn’t think much of Corbin and Rusev, why would they book them for matches against Cena and Orton, respectively, on a huge show?

Two big, young, strong superstars who get a heel reaction.

WWE is smart. The company knows the reaction it will get from bloggers, writers and fans for booking the loss and the how.

It gets people talking about it.

Maybe this is a way WWE is trying to get bloggers, writers and fans to care more about Corbin and Rusev.

It worked for Daniel Bryan. #WrestleMania28Miami #18Seconds

Sometimes it just takes more time. #JinderMahal #DrewMcIntyre

Don’t count out Corbin or Rusev, yet. WWE hasn’t.